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Crime Stoppers

Heartland Crime Stoppers

Working together to solve crime

Heartland Crime Stoppers provides anonymous cash rewards for information regarding crimes occurring in Polk, Highlands, and Hardee Counties.  Working hand and hand with local law enforcement agencies, the organization strives to solve with your assistance.

If you have information regarding a crime and wish to remain anonymous, contact Heartland Crime Stoppers in one of four ways:

  • CALL 1-888-400 TIPS (8477)
  • DIAL **TIPS from your cell phone
  • VISIT the website www.heartlandcrimestoppers.com and click on "Submit A Tip,"
  • DOWNLOAD the free "P3tips" app on your smartphone or tablet.

You will always remain anonymous and you may be eligible for a cash reward if your information leads to an arrest.  

Your information will be forwarded to law enforcement for follow up. If an arrest is made based on your tip, you are eligible for a cash reward of up to $3,000. If the crime is homicide or vehicular homicide related, the reward is automatically $5,000.

To follow up on a tip, click on the "Web Tip Follow-up" tab, enter your tip number and password.

Click here to learn more about the Heartland Crime Stoppers Program.

Below are the Polk County Sheriff's Office crimes submitted to Heartland Crime Stoppers for solving.

Gun Crimes Bounty Program

Firearm + Felon = $500.00

Heartland Crime Stoppers and the Polk County Sheriff's Office have teamed up to get illegally owned and altered firearms off the street. Through the Gun Crimes Bounty Program, tipsters can contact Heartland Crime Stoppers if they have information about:

  • A convicted felon in possession of a firearm
  • Anyone in possession of a stolen firearm
  • Anyone in possession of a firearm that's been illegally altered


If an arrest is made and the firearm is seized by law enforcement based on your tip, you are eligible for a $500.00 cash reward.

 

Firearm plus Felon equals Five Hundred

News Date

Title

Description

Sep 2, 2024
CRIME: THEFT OF STARBIES AT RACETRAC
CRIME SCE... More Info
Sep 1, 2024
***UPDATE Sept. 4, 2024 - THIS CASE IS SOLVED! The s... More Info
Aug 20, 2024

CRIME: RETAIL THEFT AT CIRCLE K 
CRIME... More Info

Aug 19, 2024
CRIME: VEHICLE BURGLARY AND STOLEN WALLET
CRI... More Info
Aug 19, 2024
CRIME: RETAIL THEFT OF POKEMON CARDS
CRIME SCE... More Info
Aug 6, 2024
CRIME: BUSINESS BURGLARY
CRIME SCENE: SUPREME ... More Info
Aug 5, 2024
CRIME: VEHICLE THEFT
CRIME SCENE: BAIL... More Info
Aug 4, 2024
***UPDATE: THIS CASE IS SOLVED!***
PCSO detect... More Info
Aug 1, 2024
CRIME: BURGLARY AND RETAIL THEFT
CRIME... More Info

Crime Stoppers FAQ

Heartland Crime Stoppers is a community-based program designed to help law enforcement solve crime with a system allowing the public to send in tips anonymously and receive cash rewards for information that leads to an arrest or indictment. It is an anonymous hotline to report crime-related information in Polk, Highlands, and Hardee counties. Tipsters remain anonymous and are eligible for rewards of up to $3,000.

It's simple. Callers are urged to call 1-800-226-TIPS (8477) with information on any crime, or a wanted suspect. Heartland Crime Stoppers cases are featured on television, radio, and in newspapers. Callers are issued code numbers and remain anonymous - guaranteed.

It is operated by an independent citizen-directed Board of Directors. They are civic-minded leaders in their communities who are dedicated to helping law enforcement solve crime in Polk, Highlands, and Hardee counties.

All of them within the three counties. The program coordinator works for the Sheriff's Office. All of the local police departments exchange information regarding Heartland Crime Stoppers cases and tips received. Other state and federal law enforcement agencies also support and are aided by the program.

Any person who directly contacts Heartland Crime Stoppers and gives information that leads to the arrest or indictment of an adult or juvenile, or leads to the arrest of a wanted suspect, will be eligible for a reward. Persons not eligible for a reward are any commissioned law enforcement officer and members of his or her immediate family; the perpetrator or co-perpetrator of the crime; the victim of the crime; or the fugitive from justice.

Heartland Crime Stoppers is solely funded through donations and receives zero direct tax dollars. Citizens and local businesses contribute to this program's success.

Absolutely. Check out these numbers:

In Florida alone, since the Heartland Crime Stoppers inception in the mid 1980's:
14,051 arrests have been made; 31,682 cases have been closed; $64,218,325 in stolen property has been recovered; and $379,851,333 worth of narcotics have been seized.

All of this was accomplished by an average reward payment-per-case solved of $54.89. Nationally, since 1976 when the program was started in Albuquerque, New Mexico, over 425,000 major crimes have been solved; over 75,000 criminals have been put behind bars; and $2.9 billion of stolen property and narcotics have been recovered.